ISIS (Daesh) behavior in Syria and Iraq is based on the dual effect of environment and Idea. This behavior in Political Psychology is determined as a function of the sum and combination of psychological elements, beliefs and subjective and highly political ideas. Environmental and psychological ideas have a great effect on the political behavior of armed Takfiri groups. It is because the environment makes ready the mental motivation, determination and necessary ability that ISIS needs for violence act and dominance in these two geographical and political environments.
Political Psychology study of the ISIS behavior shows some psychological motivations and sociological contexts:
Mental condition for action (Feelings of injustice or appeal)
The need for dependency (Radical caliphate)
The desire for social status (Identity)
Earning business reward or hereafter reward (Make the worldly attractions and invite to heaven after death)
There are different theories based on especial human psychological features for a scientific definition of extremism origins that test on available experiences. It needs the etiology of aggression and excessive violence to understand ISIS political psychology as violence based behavior clearly.
ISIS political psychology is noticed by recognition of its Ideological, political and military leaders' social situations (environment) and individual characters (intellectual foundations). From this perspective, ISIS is a social current based on reflection of frustration in the Islamic world until a religious current as it shows itself. ISIS in this perspective has the following components:
Selfishness (Being opinionated): Interpretation by personal opinion and being opinionated is one of Takfiri groups features meanwhile Islam recommend to avoid of selfishness and being opinionated because it is based on arrogance. Intense self-centeredness is the first feature that is clear obviously in ISIS when psychologically it is studied.
By studying ISIS situation, it seems that ISIS performance after entering to Syria and coming back to Iraq increases due to achieving financial resources and lands, therefore it increases the number of members. It is possible to perceive this selfishness in the behavior of ISIS from the moment they entered into Syria obviously. Nevertheless, in this regard ISIS big media machine that is based on the Internet and virtual networks has not a good communication system to communicate, discuss and battle with other groups and people. ISIS restraint to accept Islamic Ideology of others proves that it is a band, which uses religion to cover its behavior when its behavior does not belong to the depth of the Islamic culture. ISIS just uses the Islamic slogans (its fans just chanting slogans in internet and share epic clips and songs) that are devoid of cultural live context.
personal ignorance and evil of the group (division): ignorance and evil being of ISIS is another effective factor in its psychology, because this group seeks to expand the scope of their conquests and tries to achieve its objectives and its allies by using demoralize tools, expanding distrust and division between Islamic and non-Islamic multiple groups. Its example, in the beginning of Islam were Hypocrites who conspire Dirar Mosque and other plans, so it means that in psychology studying of this group the subject of ignorance and malice originally should be searched in dissension.
Terror and fake popularity: ISIS contrasting binary approach in the media and its political behavior arise from its psychology that is based on terror, violence and dread.
Pictures of beheading, burning and terrors are just a part of the message that ISIS tries to send. The extremists who joined to ISIS probably come apart of other Jihadi organizations so those are among them that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi Misuse this psychological dimension against them.
Al-Baghdadi lets the members of ISIS occur any kind of Indecency, explosions and violence lie on them meanwhile other organizations have special laws and orders for their fighters to tend toward Takfir, promiscuity and corruption against their opposition.
Naturally, there are some ones among these fighters, which tend to these improper actions. "Triumph, fear and slay" are common words that ISIS uses them. ISIS easily and without any qualms publishes pictures of explosions, hanging bodies and knives that used to slay victims. This brutality with suicide bombings and the arrest and investigation centers, explain the major part of the ISIS war strategy, which although has many ready to die members, does not show suitable power on battles.
Their suicide strategy, which makes the most powerful and advanced security organizations of the world loser, has many effects on a full of chaos area and low facilities groups, but a notable point is that ISIS is used to fight these groups and occupies their lands.
Narcissism: ISIS look for a territory to show off because its forces are exhausted and their society have not respected them any way at all. Therefore, the ISIS with full narcissism occupies some territories and makes people to obey and allegiance with them, without this feature ISIS never can do what it has done. The concept of narcissism is manifested in the rejection of criticism, therefore, it is no matter how constructive is the criticism; it has no place in the ISIS. They claim a right in their behavior that will never negotiate about it.
Humiliate people and occupied territories: Caliphate and Islamic state of the ISIS has not claim of the fight against tyranny and colonialism, but it is based on clans and they speak with each other inside the ISIS with the words full of hatred. ISIS is highly skilled in mischief against others and expands the circle of mischievous actions to obtain Islamists. One of the incentives to indulge in violence is the humiliation of the victims. ISIS through widespread propaganda against its victims, humiliates them psychologically and mentally or calling them infidels or apostate (Those who do not pledge allegiance) or introduce them as the Khawarij (Those who were out of religion) so ISIS in order to marginalize its competitors constantly use the tribal, religious and ideological words against them.
Naturally, after this, it is simple to rape people, kill, confiscate of assets, and displace them for ISIS and its members because these people have not any value for ISIS.
The decision of the group to use such a method to marginalize people and humiliate them, means that expanding this circle will never stop; therefore, rationality is limited and superficiality in ISIS.
LINK: https://www.ansarpress.com/english/4291